A Meditation on Mad Men

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulYFo28OW1tBY_IVKxjB-qWe3NA4qPh1StowVMqi4rVkm9blrZcV0vKtOedm_2NS3UybQgrD1rZR4T6PiRF-IW4JSX8T14coVm6idaMP3CARqEAMEXeXTR-KPyXN-dHAyy1H8z6oPlLHr/s1600/Draper+panoramic+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulYFo28OW1tBY_IVKxjB-qWe3NA4qPh1StowVMqi4rVkm9blrZcV0vKtOedm_2NS3UybQgrD1rZR4T6PiRF-IW4JSX8T14coVm6idaMP3CARqEAMEXeXTR-KPyXN-dHAyy1H8z6oPlLHr/s1600/Draper+panoramic+shot.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "...<span style="font-size: large;">n</span>ostalgia. It's delicate...but potent...in Greek, nostalgia literally means 'the pain from an old wound.' It's a twinge in your heart, far more powerful than memory alone."</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sterling Cooper's creative director Don Draper is pitching his promotional concept to Kodak, a prospective client, for its new product, a wheel-like slide projector. As images of his own young family flash by, one by one, on a projection screen, he continues his inspired dream-spinning:</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"This device isn't a spaceship. It's a time machine. It goes backwards, forwards. It takes us to a place where we ache to go again."</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With these words, words that also echo an aspect of <i>Mad Men</i>'s emotional appeal,  the client and everyone else inside the hushed room is in the palm of Draper's hand; he concludes:</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"It's not called 'the Wheel." It's called a 'Carousel.' It lets us travel the way a child travels. Around and around, and back home again...to a place where we know we are loved."</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The carousel whirl that is AMC's <i>Mad Men</i> sweeps the viewer along on the labyrinthine journey of Don Draper, preternaturally savvy and eloquent Madison Avenue dreamweaver, as he and those close to him navigate the dark and white nights of their own souls and that of 1960s America.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloupOY3TtoEOP2u5zrqpvbOnLgIJnRphIU_gMdrvRmSI6G9J4q4jvtuYfZ4TqMhPohGF0Ufq_0Ah8hFnf1vr0KR6MxPuBVIs5Spjr6al5N3Z7gFXiCJoCBxObDArxyIJj-mRLecb6c7ub/s1600/Wheel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloupOY3TtoEOP2u5zrqpvbOnLgIJnRphIU_gMdrvRmSI6G9J4q4jvtuYfZ4TqMhPohGF0Ufq_0Ah8hFnf1vr0KR6MxPuBVIs5Spjr6al5N3Z7gFXiCJoCBxObDArxyIJj-mRLecb6c7ub/s400/Wheel+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://youtu.be/suRDUFpsHus" style="color: #cc0000;">Click here</a> to watch Don Draper's entire 'Carousel' pitch</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span>n an early episode, Betty Draper, Don's then-wife, stares at him as he lies sleeping and wonders aloud, "Who <i>are </i>you?"  Betty's late father, Gene, didn't like his son-in-law at all and, in another episode, complains of him, "He has no people. You can't trust a person like that..." Season 4 opened with the question, "Who is Don Draper?" posed to Draper over lunch by a reporter from <i>Advertising Age</i>. Series loyalists learned early on that Draper was once a neglected farm boy whose impoverished family moved from the Midwest to Pennsylvania coal country. While serving in the Korean war he saw a way out of his nowhere-man future and seized the opportunity. In just a few years he would be a rising star on Madison Avenue with the trophy wife, children, Cadillac and suburban Ossining house to certify his status.</span><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsL2fA7dTfL_BvjEfe1fsuBnd5C6YnqzF0Ox4FfiEIsjgbbu7SKate573sYFsMR48AoRuPT0a5VAY4kFVONat2LVcYn7jdarNJtv_Ybaag0YNn3zuKDqPjPLWMEJApnXrPXjqYhPEGyd_/s1600/don-and-betty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsL2fA7dTfL_BvjEfe1fsuBnd5C6YnqzF0Ox4FfiEIsjgbbu7SKate573sYFsMR48AoRuPT0a5VAY4kFVONat2LVcYn7jdarNJtv_Ybaag0YNn3zuKDqPjPLWMEJApnXrPXjqYhPEGyd_/s400/don-and-betty.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Don and Betty Draper at home </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">D</span>raper's mysterious past and meteoric ascent have inspired comparisons to another iconic fictional character, Jay Gatsby of F. Scott Fitzgerald's <i>The Great Gatsby</i>. It was of Gatsby that Fitzgerald's narrator, Nick, would say, "If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him..." Gatsby, born James Gatz in an upper Midwestern backwater, was based on a character out of ancient fiction named Trimalchio. A freed Roman slave who became wealthy and powerful and was intent on winning over the 1st century <span lang="EN">crème de la crème, Trimalchio hosted an elaborate but tasteless feast about which the elite laughed behind his back. Gatsby, who made his fortune through confidence schemes and shady connections, was rich but naive, and his grand soirees were attended but scorned by New York's finest.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO9uEVXWfGBA3eJREtp_XL3oBlYNtPwyEArNpjAWfvm-0Ufx0Mkz_jHLDuw0u4R4AwaHDhsLZYnn5tnSa5qwFBdsUsboOn__MK2Rrtn-LfWwkpEOh_suMROgrNCFrCmn0A5dmyjdXhr7p/s1600/Mad+Men+Don+Cool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO9uEVXWfGBA3eJREtp_XL3oBlYNtPwyEArNpjAWfvm-0Ufx0Mkz_jHLDuw0u4R4AwaHDhsLZYnn5tnSa5qwFBdsUsboOn__MK2Rrtn-LfWwkpEOh_suMROgrNCFrCmn0A5dmyjdXhr7p/s320/Mad+Men+Don+Cool.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A man in full</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN">Though, like Gatsby, Don Draper is an arriviste who was once "a penniless young man without a past," no one is laughing at him. By 1960, when <i>Mad Men</i> picks up, the talented and charismatic Mr. Draper has sparked awe and envy throughout the world of advertising. No, at this point, Don Draper is perceived less like the ill-fated Gatsby and perhaps more like a more fortunate young man who fled his roots and re-made himself: Archie Leach of Bristol, England, who made his name in America and of his reinvented self said, "Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant."</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><div><span style="font-size: small;">Despite his great success, Draper lives in barely contained turmoil. He wrestles with personal demons and chafes under mounting pressures at work and at home. The very time in which he lives is a jittery age - it is the height of ‘the cold war’ and American culture is in the midst of rapid change.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2oIu1zF77fI8U9tnyceOxjYILRHwUkXU0L6sSI_Qz3T4ht65XwO3_jYFiG1Ve-bkVtiTaLV61J5FWM5qyCuS_OFHZc-Q5za72oKYlMiD5QzFCPvCe3ZdoZ8TbiU3RhrxVgtPdQLWvrEu/s1600/cuban+missile+crisis+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2oIu1zF77fI8U9tnyceOxjYILRHwUkXU0L6sSI_Qz3T4ht65XwO3_jYFiG1Ve-bkVtiTaLV61J5FWM5qyCuS_OFHZc-Q5za72oKYlMiD5QzFCPvCe3ZdoZ8TbiU3RhrxVgtPdQLWvrEu/s320/cuban+missile+crisis+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soviet missiles in Cuba</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span>t was at just about this time, in 1959, that developmental psychologist/psychoanalyst Erik Erikson coined the term ‘identity crisis,’ a condition of disorientation or role confusion that results from conflicting internal and external experiences, pressures and expectations that can lead to acute anxiety. Though Erikson originally viewed 'identity crisis' as primarily an adolescent experience, its definition expanded to include crises that occur during major life transitions as well as within social structures.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">Not too many years earlier, in 1950, sociologist David Riesman had written what became, and remains, the best-selling book ever in the U.S. on sociology. <i>The Lonely Crowd</i> examined America’s social character and described the country’s shift from 19^th century ‘inner-direction’ (behavior internalized early through parents and community) to mid-20^th century ‘other-direction’ (responsiveness to peer groups and the media). Riesman’s theories spoke to concerns of the time regarding the conformity that accompanied the sweeping spread of suburban culture. It was Riesman’s view that the confidence and unity that followed World War II were in part an attempt to deflect cultural despair, and his term ‘the lonely crowd’ entered the mainstream as a description of alienation within an affluent society.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">America, perhaps in its adolescence at mid-century and reeling under the weight of too much power, wealth and responsibility too soon, was entering a period of increasing uncertainty and anxiety as the 1960s unfolded. Clearly Don Draper, with his double life and murky past, is guarded and isolated, and most in his professional and personal orbit are perplexed by the changing, often frightening times.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHruSDBawoOdyQDmUbsrqxFasWdKpkIyxwJYb1WpIM4lO0Rz8jcGtzpIPeYV-ka4fCkgcnLM9_BdEjnG6QpR5FrxzxXWmMjFs7H0CZYn9bYoqWF2GpN8XSm8iX1lZ1zEP1sJGCucnWUIhZ/s1600/JFK+assassination+episode.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHruSDBawoOdyQDmUbsrqxFasWdKpkIyxwJYb1WpIM4lO0Rz8jcGtzpIPeYV-ka4fCkgcnLM9_BdEjnG6QpR5FrxzxXWmMjFs7H0CZYn9bYoqWF2GpN8XSm8iX1lZ1zEP1sJGCucnWUIhZ/s400/JFK+assassination+episode.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November 22, 1963 at Sterling Cooper</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2K8Q3cqGs7I" width="420"></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walter Cronkite reporting for CBS News, November 22, 1963</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">M</span>ad Men</i> creator Matthew Weiner has said that it was during his tenure as a writer on the sitcom <i>Becker</i> that an idea occurred to him for a show set in the ‘60s about someone like himself, “who… had everything and was miserable.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l1CGaRk6cd28e6bepBaRgP4PV425TsNtB_5mi1zGMUXABO4DXzqJf-RAKNWgnsaKf59oOJKd5X2AEOszKmCXTwzuXh8aFiOfnk3wQ2mFhTxHa9-BWfgHpRDzomF_mTxiIcm8VhRJkXWV/s1600/Smoke+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l1CGaRk6cd28e6bepBaRgP4PV425TsNtB_5mi1zGMUXABO4DXzqJf-RAKNWgnsaKf59oOJKd5X2AEOszKmCXTwzuXh8aFiOfnk3wQ2mFhTxHa9-BWfgHpRDzomF_mTxiIcm8VhRJkXWV/s320/Smoke+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Smoke Gets in Your Eyes</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;">As Weiner focused on writing the story of a character he thought of as a man who has sold out in some ways but is still trying to find himself, he hired a researcher to investigate the 1960s in detail. According to Weiner, the very first piece of research he received was about the crisis in cigarette advertising in 1960. And so it followed that when we first catch sight of Don Draper in the series opener it is 1960 and he is alone at a table in a cocktail lounge quizzing a black waiter about his brand of cigarettes - <i>Old Gold</i>. Draper is struggling to come up with an ad concept for Sterling Draper’s biggest account, <i>Lucky Strike</i>. The noisy, smoke-filled room is dim and in the background a recording of Don Cherry singing “Band of Gold” plays. The episode tracks the sharp, charming and handsome Mr. Draper through the evening and into a night spent with his commercial artist girlfriend, his next day at the office and his trip home after work to – surprise! – his wife and children in the suburbs.</span><br /><br />Since then Don Draper and his family and his colleagues at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (formerly Sterling Cooper) have grappled with the wildly unpredictable 1960s as best they can. Having witnessed everything on the national scene from historic space flights and assassination to the explosion of the civil rights movement and the beginnings of women’s movement, they are at the same time dealing with upheaval in their personal lives.</div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The 1960s are accurately reflected and exquisitely replicated in <i>Mad Men</i>, and immersion in that glittering and chaotic decade is mesmerizing. But it is the series’ finely drawn, palpably authentic characters, credible story lines and archetypal themes that provide its greatest appeal. </span><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Mad Men</span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">, to borrow a phrase from Don Draper's Kodak presentation, affords that "rare occasion when the public can be engaged on a level beyond flash." </span></span><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ngf2zHq4FEI" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Season 5 begins...</span></div>

Mad Men The Lady Eve (author) A Meditation on Mad Men

 "... n ostalgia. It's delicate...but potent...in Greek, nostalgia literally means 'the pain from an old wound.' It's a...

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AFRICA THE FORGOTTEN AND UNDERESTIMATED CONTINENT

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mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptFHQLHTsQUu2mQwOfm8mQg5gUOXNT0GnvSCrekRaXJqorzZ3-3pMpHsA5iDVIYucrPBLNlId4ZAU_FDQfo2ITDypz6cKvFYrE8-_dqMLRM8QRwF2Ck52FHOL4Urcx5EKRA7nIyL9wNbY/s1600/africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptFHQLHTsQUu2mQwOfm8mQg5gUOXNT0GnvSCrekRaXJqorzZ3-3pMpHsA5iDVIYucrPBLNlId4ZAU_FDQfo2ITDypz6cKvFYrE8-_dqMLRM8QRwF2Ck52FHOL4Urcx5EKRA7nIyL9wNbY/s400/africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AUSTRALIA: OUT OF AFRICA ……AND BACK IN</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Tim Harcourt via The Globalist<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, the world's interest in Africa seemed to revolve around famine relief and anti-apartheid rallies. A lot has changed since then, writes Australian economist Tim Harcourt. Now — and for decades to come — the world's interest in Africa is likely to revolve around its growing economic advantages<span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">W</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">hen South Africa emerged from the apartheid era in the mid-1990s, it was common to hear a plea to the world not to forget Africa simply because the apartheid battle was finished. Back then, "not forgetting Africa" largely meant international aid. And not just from Western governments, but charitable endeavors such as Bob Geldof's Live Aid concerts in 1985. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The implication was that these type of events and other aid programs were the main way in which the West could productively interact with the African continent. Fortunately, this postcolonial (and slightly patronizing) view is proving to be completely outmoded. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SEVEN ECONOMIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ARE EXPECTED TO BE AMONG THE TEN FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In 2012, sub-Saharan Africa is rapidly coming of age as an economic region and as an investment destination. The so-called "frontier" markets of today's Africa will be the emerging markets of tomorrow. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Over the next five years, according to the IMF, seven economies in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to be among the ten fastest growing economies in the world. In 2011, the economy of Ghana grew by 13.7%, while Ethiopia's grew by 8.5%. Elsewhere, the Mozambique economy grew by 7.5%, Nigeria and Zambia by 6.8%, and the Democratic Republic of Congo by 6.5%. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Australia is one country that understands what this means, and the opportunity it presents. Perth is full of mining companies — around 20 or so — that are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange but have the majority of their operations in Africa. There are around 200 Australian mining companies with operations in Africa, and they are involved in projects valued in excess of $45 billion. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Outside of mining, there are 4,000 or more Australian companies exporting to Africa. Over the last five years, there has been an estimated doubling of Australian companies doing business in Africa, and Australia has a strong presence there in infrastructure, professional services and education. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When I was a young official at the Australian Council of Trade Unions, I remember attending a summit in South Africa on economic cooperation among Indian Ocean countries. This was in 1995, just after South Africa had been welcomed back into the international fold. It all seemed very idealistic, but not particularly real, to imagine the Indian Ocean as something that could unite rather than divide the people and economies of Africa and Australia. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">RESOURCE BOOMS</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But now, more than a decade and a half later, so much has happened and changed. There has been a strong flow of information, people and money across the Indian Ocean. Despite its expanse, the Indian Ocean is no longer a barrier — it's a connection. Two-way trade is reaching $5 billion a year, and has been on an upward trajectory for several years. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">At the heart of all this are people of all races. In this regard, Australia has a particular affinity for South Africa. As immigrant societies, many South Africans and Australians share family ties, and South Africans are becoming an influential immigrant group in Australia. Both countries have small, open economies, are geographically isolated from major world markets, and have large, export-oriented resource sectors. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AFRICA IS FORECAST TO EMERGE AS THE FASTEST-GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0b5394; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This augurs well for the future, both for Africa and Australia. Africa is forecast to emerge as the fastest-growing region in the world over the next 20 years. To realize this growth, it will have to nurture a number of key competitive advantages: the world's richest mineral and energy deposits, the most arable land, and what is predicted to be the youngest population in the world by 2050. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Australia's current prosperity is largely due to its own resource boom. By mid-century, that boom may well have extended to Africa and helped drive a huge wave of supplementary development, raising living and education standards throughout the continent. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Austrade, the federal government's agency for international trade, has recently expanded its African network by opening offices in Ghana and Kenya. Far from "forgetting Africa," the continent will be looming large on more than just Australia's investment radar in the coming decades. And if we can keep economies open for multilateral investment, this will present an opportunity for everyone</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

AFRICA THE FORGOTTEN AND UNDERESTIMATED CONTINENT

AUSTRALIA: OUT OF AFRICA ……AND BACK IN By Tim Harcourt via The Globalist Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, the world's interest ...

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CYPRUS: EMERGING GEO-STRATEGIC KEY PLAYER IN THE EASTER MEDITERRANEAN?

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACqsigUISNuGsnVpCMQo3LWKJscJf72xGpMiZ9_0BJKn-UpxgL8A_cocmwHfU5dCHimKad-ycsFQn3MrO65vNw5l6Jqwpp2xEmJo53atuKdbkYUWat4ZztCXYZbTsZ6Y57tm2sBOljMNl/s1600/cyprus_amo_2008239_lrg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACqsigUISNuGsnVpCMQo3LWKJscJf72xGpMiZ9_0BJKn-UpxgL8A_cocmwHfU5dCHimKad-ycsFQn3MrO65vNw5l6Jqwpp2xEmJo53atuKdbkYUWat4ZztCXYZbTsZ6Y57tm2sBOljMNl/s320/cyprus_amo_2008239_lrg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS AT ODDS WITH BRITAIN OVER SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS AND ITS GEOPOLITICAL IMPACT FOR THE REGION</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: orange; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">In view of recent developments in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, and the fact that CYPRUS for the first time openly demands the shutdown of the two BRITISH Bases, (ESBA and WSBA (Eastern and Western Sovereign Base Area) RAF Akrotiri, and Dhekelia, (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_540345350" style="color: #444444;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Base_Areas</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Base_Areas%20" style="color: #444444;"></a>) is a direct result of the ongoing geopolitical shift in the LEVANTINE. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjMG45mqq0-uRN8wkrCX1jEYyV0sLsGw2BaIooZ0GrAyTUnhDNaOLu-_O1K9XLVqwvVWPfsFIhK6FtaPrBTHcK-F05Cht4pMJ2uVkTbk5FbCRM4toAwVIbbWTqTXFPCqHge56XdHHT0l_/s1600/Cyprus_SBAsInRed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjMG45mqq0-uRN8wkrCX1jEYyV0sLsGw2BaIooZ0GrAyTUnhDNaOLu-_O1K9XLVqwvVWPfsFIhK6FtaPrBTHcK-F05Cht4pMJ2uVkTbk5FbCRM4toAwVIbbWTqTXFPCqHge56XdHHT0l_/s400/Cyprus_SBAsInRed.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">CYPRUS for its part is depending strongly on RUSSIA because RUSSIA bailed out CYPRUS from possible default by granting a large loan, thus the country is committed to adhere to RUSSIA’S demands, which among “offshore benefits” is eager to increase its military presence in the Mediterranean by establishing more naval and air bases. Thus CYPRUS, who traditionally holds close ties with RUSSIA (both countries are part of the Christian Orthodox faith), is the logical location for RUSSIA to set base. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Apart from the geostrategic importance CYPRUS has, recent oil and gas discoveries prompted ISRAEL to join the “quest” for CYPRUS and strengthen ties between the countries, not only for energy resource exploration, but also to establish stronger military cooperation by stationing IAF fighter jets in Paphos and be able to make use of CYPRUS airspace for military training and operational purposes. According to undisclosed intelligence sources CYPRUS and RUSSIA together with GREECE and ISRAEL are planning to expand Paphos International airport and air base facilities as well as Paphos port facilities in order to accommodate larger navy vessels and submarines.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKEYS HIGH GAMBLING BID</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">   </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">This comes at a time when TURKEY, the arch foe of CYPRUS decided to break its military and economic relations with ISRAEL for geopolitical reasons in exchange of become a key player and mentor of Arab countries in the region. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">In addition to TURKEY’S Geo-political ambitions, recent offshore gas and oil findings in CYPRUS and ISRAEL have severely hampered TURKEY’S economic ambition of becoming the main transition hub for various oil and gas pipeline projects in the region. Thus tensions between TURKEY and CYPRUS have increased even further in recent past. On the other hand BRITAIN and TURKEY, both NATO member countries, traditionally are close allies, a fact that CYPRUS remembers dearly during the 1974 TURKISH invasion during which BRITAIN cordoned off its 2 Sovereign Bases, not even provided humanitarian support to the islanders. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALLEGEDLY BRITAIN PROVIDED INTELLIGENCE DATA TO TURKEY PRIOR TO THE INVASION </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHIDQSHziIJmSO7PiLMJGAI1K_fhbfZcm06LIBV9WowfZH7woPREtWZbb2W7OcJ3ptMy77hAzK7H7jDVrRjmqkiVYtJeQlshd9eu30JhQCst0gz3CCl4H78_T2vB3Gh3NxjNwxlAdzAtu/s1600/ayios_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHIDQSHziIJmSO7PiLMJGAI1K_fhbfZcm06LIBV9WowfZH7woPREtWZbb2W7OcJ3ptMy77hAzK7H7jDVrRjmqkiVYtJeQlshd9eu30JhQCst0gz3CCl4H78_T2vB3Gh3NxjNwxlAdzAtu/s400/ayios_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ayios Nikolaos ESBA listening and observation station</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Allegedly BRITAIN, through its Dhekelia ESBA Easter Sovereign Base Area, which is home to the Royal Signal Regiment and “listening post“ for the Middle East, using state of the art listening and observation devices, provided TURKEY intelligence data regarding the 1974 GREEK Military coup which led to the TURKISH invasion of CYPRUS. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Thus it becomes evident that because of Britain’s stance before and during the Turkish invasion, the two countries are not at best terms. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">As if all the current Geo-strategic reshuffling is not enough, GREECE suddenly also enters center stage after gas and oil findings in the Aegean Sea, thus making TURKEY even more nervous since ISRAEL, CYPRUS and GREECE have joint forces to strengthen ties, both economically as well as militarily. With the prospects of CYPRUS becoming a key gas exporter and distribution hub in the region it becomes obviously that they want the BRITISH to leave the island, especially since the two bases are occupying prime land which could be utilized for constructing energy distribution sights etc. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS HAS BEEN AND STILL IS THE LARGEST NATURAL “AIRCRAFT CARRIER” IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Realistically speaking though it is rather unlikely that BRITAIN will ever abandon such Geo-strategic important base, no matter how much CYPRUS will pressure it, especially since the USA and NATO have been using RAF Akrotiri as a forward logistics and operational base when conducting operations in IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, KUWAIT and in the not too distant future maybe IRAN. Thus once again it becomes evident as to what significant role CYPRUS plays when it comes to geopolitics and strategies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhnAirDJbUqS4Zz2qGtn7vJIwW3Twzz71YMVB4mg2Az8T-PpY5O36-1LEY1Tfrun2tzTrEZLRtiQAtRritCqVNtA1-0pMkQudb4RNHOUqtQI2RJc6M5RqUGZaFIvF0asTndBmVflgvgRs/s1600/n_africa_mid_east_pol_95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhnAirDJbUqS4Zz2qGtn7vJIwW3Twzz71YMVB4mg2Az8T-PpY5O36-1LEY1Tfrun2tzTrEZLRtiQAtRritCqVNtA1-0pMkQudb4RNHOUqtQI2RJc6M5RqUGZaFIvF0asTndBmVflgvgRs/s400/n_africa_mid_east_pol_95.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Strategic positions of Cyprus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Talking about Geo-strategic significance, the tiny island of CYPRUS has 8 airports.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Larnaka International Airport</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Ercan International Airport located in Turkish occupied northern Cyprus</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Paphos International Airport and Greek and National Guard Air force base</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Akrotiri WSBA (Western Sovereign Base Area) Royal Air force and NATO Air Base</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Kingsfield ESBA British Military (British Army AIRCOR Base)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Lakatamia National Guard Air Base</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Gonyeli Turkish Air Force Air Base</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Nicosia International airport abandoned in UN Buffer Zone but can be reactivated </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Thus Cyprus has been and still is the largest natural “Aircraft carrier” in the Mediterranean Sea</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Related topics:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_14.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_14.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS WANTS BRITISH BASES SHUT DOWN AS MPS PASS RESOLUTION</span></b></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Via Defense News </span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>BRITISH BASES IN CYPRUS ARE USED FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES</b></span></div><div style="color: blue; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">MPs have unanimously approved a resolution calling for an end to the presence of the BRITISH BASES in CYPRUS according to the rules of International Law and the relevant decisions of the UNITED NATIONS.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The resolution was approved after the members of the House completed the discussion of the issue “The provocative statements of BRITISH officials and the future of the BRITISH Bases in CYPRUS”, an issue which was debated following the request of MP George Perdikis of the Ecologists – Environmentalists Movement.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Noting that the “BRITISH Bases in CYPRUS are used for military operations against neighboring countries”, the House reconfirms previous relevant resolutions and denounces a series of violations by BRITAIN on the Treaty of Establishment”.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>BASES ARE IN AN AREA OF GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM</b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the resolution, the House cites the statement made by BRITISH Secretary of State for Defence in December 2011 that the Bases are in an area of geopolitical significance and high priority for the long-term interests of the national security of the UNITED KINGDOM”, as well as BRITAIN’S firm commitment to the Bases in CYPRUS as well as similar statements made by Commander of the Bases.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The House calls on the government to take the necessary actions towards the BRITISH government for the payment of amounts owed since 1965.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It underlines that in many cases the actions of the authorities of the BRITISH Bases in CYPRUS are arbitrary and endanger the lives and health of citizens and the environment.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">CYPRIOT MPs said that the operation of the BRITISH Bases is a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights of the CYPRIOT citizens and severs the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the CYPRIOT state.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE BRITISH BASES IN CYPRUS HAD PROVED THEIR WORTH DURING AIR OPERATIONS IN LIBYA AND AS A LOGISTIC HUB FOR ACTIVITIES IN AFGHANISTAN</b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In December it was announced that BRITAIN would retain both its military bases in CYPRUS following the completion of a review of their operations by Lord Ashcroft.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a written statement to parliament Defense Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed BRITAIN’S “enduring commitment” to the bases, saying they had proved their worth during air operations in LIBYA and as a logistic hub for activities in AFGHANISTAN.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">About 2,500 military personnel and 1,500 civilians work at BRITISH installations on the island.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is widely reported that the bases cost the BRITISH taxpayer over €330 million annually to maintain and reductions may be sought in downsizing military personnel and civilian workers.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The RAF base at Akrotiri and the army barracks at Dhekelia cover 254km² or around 3 per cent of the island’s landmass. BRITAIN has previously offered to return around half the territory if a peace deal is reached.</span></div>

CYPRUS: EMERGING GEO-STRATEGIC KEY PLAYER IN THE EASTER MEDITERRANEAN?

CYPRUS AT ODDS WITH BRITAIN OVER SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS AND ITS GEOPOLITICAL IMPACT FOR THE REGION In view of recent developments in the EASTE...

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5k Here I Come!

<p>Today I’m running my first race, of many, in 2012!! Its been almost 18 months since I’ve ran a race! My last race was the <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/applefest-5k.html">Applefest 5k</a> and little did I know I was 4 weeks pregnant!</p> <p>Lots has happened since then and I’m on the road to getting fit again! My hope is to use races as motivation to continue working out and eating healthy!</p> <p>Ok…back to today! I’m running a race 5k in my hometown! I love local races!!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMT9sQBx41ep0cJcAbXrgQwmpNp81bsYeDSNhwdj-Mf6ZyfHmBO0pVjQk2Kp6qvahBZiKQIOMs9b-xzlj9yVAh-csQBGTUa4fPchnCgZPYypiqBkJe8LyvFItTz4q2rw5dSM2ULwfmn2i/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN8Pj5mzAwW-w2c2JHvqpNogMsX6X3FEMDSThKmWpNSXr82BNLE2YfnUz9oZGNAc_yJ9PRpkRUkRTO4xFaGYOFYm4f4XSqEXndmt9cBwXWNoYCdxM2nhwi3hVguBGCmxocnFuo8KNYMKc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="404"></a></p> <p>I have mixed feelings about today. I’m excited, nervous, and scared all together! I’ve been running 2-3 times/week for the past 3 weeks. My longest distance was 2.5 miles in 28 minutes. So we’ll see how today goes! I just have to keep telling myself “I can do this!”. </p> <p>I’ve had a good pre-race breakfast: 1/2 waffle topped with peanut butter and a 1/2 banana.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tGONYKBl93wXyxsAG3yLziLnffJROQwLSwspzkRxxY6RPPR-n7jGwwht5VLfXcIGHtBWatMCUCdtZrUkScCJ7kk23kfqnCRmZUT2GWz_tYoTV5bSjcyA1Jf7YDvSN8JA4B8g3Qv_dSyE/s1600-h/IMG_1405%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1405" border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf54Aq0f_xjZhVdz19_YhXLUoL3yma18p6Xbl-j_B2WxVRLJH7e6HPUMi4IE5qtJTB-7lkRDD7ap9KDVy0wjj3RhtkRobXmv61aogPqvNF6YdxmuV67e9W7IkQJihN0xYoZ1KZ-ADwqVBL/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1405" width="404"></a></p> <p>Oh and this little cutie helped me finish the other half of that banana! (in case you were wondering)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQvLalQ_dFaNj5_bWrIUmQPSTxQXjtSH-Qnccoo5U8ISGYSPxPtq2oFiOIudXX29vXtiaBLI0FwLsxcWi9izpQyhZFBsuSJMy9c_q3N_WYdu6zScWTGvy7Hd8E_JIuZM0FTKWwN6vEOIR/s1600-h/IMG_1407%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1407" border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM_VbU2qD9BqIjYaK-eJ6k7iPAgqA3pGAPsaD3HIgEptg3t6f14U8w7dG6sXApalky7EczjY5rH62p0c08bTNrdUnX2yd2JZXDPmh1cTgSuDTt06uROwDvk_lOPjJmRVDgZY8Iv2aoknd/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1407" width="404"></a></p> <p>I’m off to the races! Wish me luck! </p>

5k Here I Come!

Today I’m running my first race, of many, in 2012!! Its been almost 18 months since I’ve ran a race! My last race was the Applefest 5k and ...

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Argentine Shale Gas Production could alter the Southern Cones Geopolitical Landscape

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnmKBmOpbC6hOnlcjZoyD1gD2DkBwbMlMshZx6NiOH8Jnhm-s0eQRGIi6hiLwWDT2WVr02_L7qbLMRUIZR2Y9Ab8071-G9H8bZ8qmrcc4MGvr8588MX2fdK0nTKFbyIOoYth1enpVw2Pt/s1600/Shale.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnmKBmOpbC6hOnlcjZoyD1gD2DkBwbMlMshZx6NiOH8Jnhm-s0eQRGIi6hiLwWDT2WVr02_L7qbLMRUIZR2Y9Ab8071-G9H8bZ8qmrcc4MGvr8588MX2fdK0nTKFbyIOoYth1enpVw2Pt/s320/Shale.jpeg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">read also <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/malvinas-30-years-on_30.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/malvinas-30-years-on_30.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARGENTINA: OBSTACLES TO SHALE GAS PRODUCTION </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Via Stratfor Global Intelligence </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><b>SUMMARY</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ARGENTINA relies heavily on fossil fuels for its energy needs. They account for roughly 89 percent of the country's overall energy consumption, and more than 40 percent of that consumption can be attributed to natural gas. ARGENTINE natural gas production peaked in 2006 at roughly 46 billion cubic meters (bcm), but since then production has not kept pace with demand. In fact, production has declined by 10 percent since 2006 while overall demand has increased by 4 percent. This trend culminated in 2008, when ARGENTINA became a net importer of natural gas after having been a net exporter since 1999. As of 2010, natural gas consumption outweighed production by approximately 3 bcm per year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But the future of natural gas in ARGENTINA may be more encouraging than recent production suggests, especially if Buenos Aires can harness the country's shale gas reserves. Estimates indicate that ARGENTINA has the third-highest recoverable shale gas reserves in the world -- roughly 22 trillion cubic meters (tcm). In addition to these potential reserves, ARGENTINA meets several other criteria that would enable it to quickly develop its resources and become a significant shale gas producer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The problem is that the ARGENTINE energy market operates under tight government control. This control is seen most visibly with government policies that have reduced the ability and will of energy companies to invest in new production. These policies have also placed a heavy financial burden on Buenos Aires, which in the past week revoked oil concessions for Repsol YPF, the country's largest energy company, accordingly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QSy96DGYkDCTBKvZGdULCmDF0vbUb3GfOstJ9xihGOVrxY8sjE73frmqNWgPVJvxo4NagTrPAMa62S4LmBiAHPYIMQ-5DgrvGe5ptT6z3W-tAh-Y30AX_uI2TbNxFccPULfE43CT0s5L/s1600/shale-gas-south-america.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QSy96DGYkDCTBKvZGdULCmDF0vbUb3GfOstJ9xihGOVrxY8sjE73frmqNWgPVJvxo4NagTrPAMa62S4LmBiAHPYIMQ-5DgrvGe5ptT6z3W-tAh-Y30AX_uI2TbNxFccPULfE43CT0s5L/s320/shale-gas-south-america.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Comment by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring: The model of Government control over the energy market has proven rather successful in countries such as AUSTRIA and formally state owned oil and energy company OMV, not to mention GERMANY and other EUROPEAN countries. Privatization of state assets is an IMF doctrine which has proven negative in many parts of the word. Government interferences in energy markets did prove to be a successful concept in Europe. The results of such interventions are still visible in Europe’s energy market which has been partially privatized but where the state still has the final decision making power.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><a href="http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5btt_news%5d=33704"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=33704</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.contrafedpublishing.co.nz/Energy+NZ/Vol.4+No.4+July-August+2010/Time+to+consider+State-owned+petroleum.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.contrafedpublishing.co.nz/Energy+NZ/Vol.4+No.4+July-August+2010/Time+to+consider+State-owned+petroleum.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The volatility of ARGENTINA'S regulatory environment makes the country a risky opportunity for foreign companies that could provide much-needed capital and technological investments. Given the promising geology and infrastructure associated with ARGENTINA'S shale gas basins, this regulatory environment is perhaps the only impediment for quickly producing shale gas on a large scale. If the current negotiations with YPF can be brought to a mutually acceptable end, ARGENTINA could once again achieve energy self-sufficiency and become a net exporter of natural gas.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ANALYSIS</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ARGENTINA has four shale basins, the most promising of which is the NEUQUEN BASIN in central-west ARGENTINA, where a portion of the country's conventional natural gas is produced. According to a 2011 U.S. Energy Information Administration assessment, this basin contains approximately half of ARGENTINA'S recoverable shale gas reserves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Conditions for Recovery</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To recover these reserves quickly, five conditions must be met. There must be high concentrations of shale gas; technical expertise in extraction techniques and working knowledge of the local geography; established pipeline infrastructure; access to fresh water (to complete the hydraulic fracturing treatments); and huge amounts of capital.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYmevoaB9xU8zInP0K3jQE3UPPdjYn2uT-GO9FIH0MzRXegWoDaL4dEnIJoKcDjBgN_QC1_pTc9SelZULi9g2KHt3R9Bl9YGoB-Wqafi2lgSoHTSjiwKUTCPJ94YCJWJ2Djdmzlfa_VKO/s1600/EIA_World_Shale_Gas_Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYmevoaB9xU8zInP0K3jQE3UPPdjYn2uT-GO9FIH0MzRXegWoDaL4dEnIJoKcDjBgN_QC1_pTc9SelZULi9g2KHt3R9Bl9YGoB-Wqafi2lgSoHTSjiwKUTCPJ94YCJWJ2Djdmzlfa_VKO/s640/EIA_World_Shale_Gas_Map.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ARGENTINA appears to be in good shape on most of these fronts. Though exploration is not complete, the shale formations of the NEUQUEN BASIN are believed to contain 11 tcm of recoverable reserves. Moreover, ARGENTINA has a robust pipeline system. Decreased conventional natural gas production has left ARGENTINA with extra pipeline capacity, and the NEUQUEN BASIN, where the preliminary shale gas exploration efforts are taking place, is already a production site for traditional natural gas extraction. In other words, most of the necessary pipeline infrastructure is already in place. Also, several rivers, including the Limay and Neuquen rivers, are close enough to the NEUQUEN BASIN to provide the requisite fresh water for hydraulic fracturing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To gain the necessary expertise and technology for exploiting its shale gas resources, ARGENTINA likely will need both domestic and foreign companies to participate in exploration. Already REPSOL YPF and CANADA'S AMERICA PETROGAS have drilled several exploratory wells in NEUQUEN. Additionally, EXXONMOBIL, TOTAL SA and ROYAL DUTCH/SHELL have invested or plan to invest in ARGENTINE basins but have not drilled any wells. Notably, the geology of the NEUQUEN BASIN is thought to be similar to several U.S. basins, likely making the adaptation of current extraction techniques a simpler task.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Getting financing may be the most difficult condition for ARGENTINA to meet. YPF has stated that developing the NEUQUEN BASIN'S VACA MUERTA field alone will cost $25 billion per year. To that end YPF is seeking foreign partners, including EXXONMOBIL, ITALY'S ENI and major CHINESE and RUSSIAN companies, to finance the operations. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But YPF is the major player in existing oil and natural gas production, and regardless of new investment, it will remain important for the development of the energy sector, both as a partner and as the company that controls the majority of ARGENTINA'S energy infrastructure.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But the nature of Argentina's energy markets will complicate YPF's ability to attract investment partners. Low consumer prices have cut into energy companies' revenues, and in YPF's case, the company has been allowed to return 90 percent of its profits to stockholders, leaving little for investment into more exploration at a time when domestic production is in decline. Because demand outstrips production, the government has been forced to subsidize natural gas and fuel oil to ensure that domestic demand is met. As a result, the government has directly engaged YPF in a battle to push the company to invest in new energy production, most recently using the provincial governments to revoke oil concessions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The ultimate goal for the ARGENTINE government is to keep fuel prices low domestically while forcing companies to increase energy production. Buenos Aires may be willing to provide some money to achieve that goal, but the majority of technology and financing will have to come from foreign sources, including YPF. Some foreign companies may be put off by price controls and the ARGENTINE government's erratic behavior. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">However, with only 2 bcm of additional natural gas needed to satisfy domestic consumption, the prospect of being able to export the natural gas may be enough of an incentive for foreign companies to brave the political winds of ARGENTINA. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Regional Implications</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It is unclear whether ARGENTINA can overcome its own regulatory environment and produce shale gas on a large scale. If successful, the implications for ARGENTINA and the region are extensive. Shale gas has the potential to eliminate ARGENTINA'S natural gas deficit, which means the SOUTH AMERICAN country could resume exporting its natural gas -- if it can garner enough investment to move beyond the current stage of basic exploration. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Buenos Aires would apply any initial production toward meeting domestic consumption. This will take at least an additional 3 bcm per year of production from the shale gas fields to eliminate the natural gas deficit and at least another 3 bcm per year from shale gas to increase overall natural gas production back to peak levels. Over the past decade, the UNITED STATES has increased shale gas production by more than 100 bcm per year. ARGENTINA would have to produce less than 10 percent as much as the UNITED STATES to regain export status.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">CHILE and BRAZIL are natural gas importers, and much of the natural gas they import comes from BOLIVIA and ARGENTINA. Given ARGENTINA'S decline in production and the 2007 nationalization of the natural gas sector in BOLIVIA, BRAZIL and CHILE have supplemented their natural gas imports with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from global markets -- a much more expensive operation than piping natural gas. CHILE would welcome lower natural gas prices brought on by increased ARGENTINE production, and BRAZIL would likewise benefit from increased production in the region.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If ARGENTINA produced enough shale gas to exceed its own demands and the demands of neighboring states, ARGENTINA could look toward the global LNG market. Argentina already has two import terminals, which could be expanded to include export capabilities with time, planning and money. It is the opportunity for global expansion that will attract foreign capital.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Despite ARGENTINA'S potential reserves, the extent of ARGENTINE shale gas production will not be realized for at least five years. Additional natural gas production would first liberate ARGENTINA from its own energy dependence and eliminate its natural gas deficit. From there, Buenos Aires could begin looking outward. But to do so, ARGENTINA must overcome its own obstacles to attract and then retain foreign investment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Reading headlines such as: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Next Big Shale gas Boom </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">How To Invest in Argentina</span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;">’s Emerging Shale Oil & Gas Play</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h1 class="entry-title" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size: small;">indicate that energy demand and subsequent investment opportunities will  have oil companies accept even government control, simply because there is too much money involved and the profit margins big enough for all parties involved the rest is a  "tug of war" between politics and oil companies. </span></h1><h1> <a href="http://www.investmentu.com/2011/October/shale-gas-boom-in-argentina.html"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.investmentu.com/2011/October/shale-gas-boom-in-argentina.html</span></span></a></h1><h1><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://oilandgas-investments.com/2011/oil-stocks/how-to-invest-in-argentinas-emerging-shale-oil-gas-play/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"> </span></span></a></h1><h1 class="entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size: small;"></span><span id="pronsetspell"><span class="pronsetspell" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://oilandgas-investments.com/2011/oil-stocks/how-to-invest-in-argentinas-emerging-shale-oil-gas-play/"><span style="font-size: small;">http://oilandgas-investments.com/2011/oil-stocks/how-to-invest-in-argentinas-emerging-shale-oil-gas-play/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br />

Argentine Shale Gas Production could alter the Southern Cones Geopolitical Landscape

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale read also http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/malvinas-30-years-on_30.html ARGENTINA: OBSTACLE...

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bathroom pop

I just realized after reading that title that it might sound a bit...disturbing. Eww. But I got your attention, didn't I?<div><br /></div><div>The bedroom patching (and there is a lot of patching in a house with 65 year old plaster) is done and I'm ready to <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/03/grass-cloth-without-grass-cloth.html" target="_blank">get my paint on</a>. And just getting my painting supplies ready puts a bee in my bonnet to possibly paint my bathroom. I've got a whole damn hive in my bonnet these days, so what's one more bee, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>We did the <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/p/bathroom.html" target="_blank">bathroom </a>when I was 8.75 months pregnant with our first daughter and we have loved it just as it is for the past 4 1/2 years. But I'm ready for a refresh. Nothing huge, just a new paint color or something.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love the green in Kate Spade's bathroom with all of the white tile and the black on the shower curtain. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcXVH8cdUCUTDO_j9LpNJ3qsqwyDvqgs9FAejYDMOO1xGut5dIQBZhSotkjgMLWBcsgK2ilM2zHabvkzowIi8fZ1y_rgVqBtMtgGaILfSqifzj5KYsyC1NXZcDRBqjDvY0H29kxdnfcAk/s1600/KateSpadebathroom.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcXVH8cdUCUTDO_j9LpNJ3qsqwyDvqgs9FAejYDMOO1xGut5dIQBZhSotkjgMLWBcsgK2ilM2zHabvkzowIi8fZ1y_rgVqBtMtgGaILfSqifzj5KYsyC1NXZcDRBqjDvY0H29kxdnfcAk/s320/KateSpadebathroom.jpeg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205649522648/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Of course, Kate's green is a wonderful (and pricey) <a href="http://www.passementeries.com/scalamandre/wallpaper/zebras.htm" target="_blank">Scalamandre wallpaper</a> but <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/babyfern" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore's Baby Fern</a> would be close. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or, maybe the reverse. A graphic black and white combo with a pop of color would be fun. And really, doesn't everyone want to have fun in the bathroom?</div><div><br /></div><div>Kate strikes again with this bathroom that was featured in <i>House & Garden,</i> October 2004. (no, Kate Spade is not sponsoring this post. I wish.)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdM7pm0DEVQX77Z8ISLDiminTcdA0KsBmVgAo5TcA4pa22k7AaiDe6zxSni5Q1Y5hY-XTK2hCAg_IQ6LQbOoQ3ZVW7AurjFh6YM4AqRpY0pikTNXl2O6RvmDmE38Ld1BShGrLHZevhQKjq/s1600/kate-spade-perfection.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdM7pm0DEVQX77Z8ISLDiminTcdA0KsBmVgAo5TcA4pa22k7AaiDe6zxSni5Q1Y5hY-XTK2hCAg_IQ6LQbOoQ3ZVW7AurjFh6YM4AqRpY0pikTNXl2O6RvmDmE38Ld1BShGrLHZevhQKjq/s320/kate-spade-perfection.jpeg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205649522639/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Something for me to think about while I paint...the bedroom. One room at a time girlfriend!</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you ever get the urge to change a perfectly good room? Any rooms in your house that you're board with? </div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers to a good weekend!</div>

bathroom pop

I just realized after reading that title that it might sound a bit...disturbing. Eww. But I got your attention, didn't I? The bedroom pa...

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Weigh In Friday & Other Successes

I've finally gotten around to updating my stats on the left sidebar.  I'm now down 29.9 lbs as of today!  I'm working on getting back down to my lowest weight yet, of 227.1 lbs (during Terrible Awful) so that I can feel good about wearing my weight loss bracelet again.  But I'm not going to discount my recent success - it feels good to be at <i>almost </i>a 30 lbs loss!  This week I took off 2.3 lbs - go me!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVa7f_q6xPnd1K1M8weaVtAA3KB8v-qbcHENDDzXJUJrLNt-PllZRX0GPAEYIQ7xV4sQfLadHmb6IHA2o_wNwFzcnWtM5JrN-quOSVqiXhHZkEqvn4m7cJ6DdkPc52k-OfYil0RbTMldc/s1600/Pansies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVa7f_q6xPnd1K1M8weaVtAA3KB8v-qbcHENDDzXJUJrLNt-PllZRX0GPAEYIQ7xV4sQfLadHmb6IHA2o_wNwFzcnWtM5JrN-quOSVqiXhHZkEqvn4m7cJ6DdkPc52k-OfYil0RbTMldc/s400/Pansies.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spring is in full swing in VA!</td></tr></tbody></table>A few weeks ago I <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/03/two-upcoming-5ks.html" target="_blank">wrote about the upcoming 5K's</a> I have for April and May.  I'm so excited to report that the donations are rolling in!  While the previous blog post only spoke of two 5K's, I've since enrolled in the Walk for MS (click on the badge on the left for more info) - another event that I wanted to participate in last year but couldn't due to a conflict with another walk.   To those who have donated, please know that they are much appreciated by myself and these organizations!  And to those who may still want to donate - there is still plenty of time!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJOIsLgEkr3fOoWRalI_iTN5qR6irCfBZGUMge-rhb54d3QyJFUmwtdgeiPALX7VoU2b_zH4p4pKB8rUYk9YOIdLlj8EyBVWJBOUB3tbW_CVL8PcPBM8_nzqHZG8wncn7YdSsKU1FzmM/s1600/Tulips+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJOIsLgEkr3fOoWRalI_iTN5qR6irCfBZGUMge-rhb54d3QyJFUmwtdgeiPALX7VoU2b_zH4p4pKB8rUYk9YOIdLlj8EyBVWJBOUB3tbW_CVL8PcPBM8_nzqHZG8wncn7YdSsKU1FzmM/s400/Tulips+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaIT4T49uYSAO9lkywwNlc84SgwSXJkJHI9Y3I0o_KpWCa8aUOR-5VxNisYfK7HYWRDIt4sotldv1fK-t5Uu5f34lb0aJHWmbf6T7UkEKfRINrVB7eT3fQJd_yWsGGIQ86NfWM0vxVyg/s1600/Tulips+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaIT4T49uYSAO9lkywwNlc84SgwSXJkJHI9Y3I0o_KpWCa8aUOR-5VxNisYfK7HYWRDIt4sotldv1fK-t5Uu5f34lb0aJHWmbf6T7UkEKfRINrVB7eT3fQJd_yWsGGIQ86NfWM0vxVyg/s400/Tulips+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I don't know about you, but I sure am looking forward to this weekend.  Heck, I'm looking forward to the entire month of April!  For starters, April is my birth month (April 4 to be exact!), Easter is just around the corner - my favorite Sunday, and lastly, every single weekend we have something planned.  I'm going to just pretend that those are all birthday celebration events :).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ88l81_9OysIZqOIGrQ5SgQiJAn7xkYmddkorY06R8takb9oQxwT2FyVKajfIezyBgbwX5J74qEbUm-mdpfktdpLma-dqgaEMCo3tFyAnaag3jElyKq3lIYW1isP_ewfE2IJh9_Bbi9k/s1600/Tulips+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ88l81_9OysIZqOIGrQ5SgQiJAn7xkYmddkorY06R8takb9oQxwT2FyVKajfIezyBgbwX5J74qEbUm-mdpfktdpLma-dqgaEMCo3tFyAnaag3jElyKq3lIYW1isP_ewfE2IJh9_Bbi9k/s400/Tulips+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Do you have anything planned this weekend?  Are you an April baby?  If so, what day?  </b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuDWgwiQUCtcnvV-V6KQeOnw47Nfvr8gXxFRiSyGVmd2jaE4V-ikYe-6F095LGpThdRSmZmBan96wCxA-YEyNe4_RKG0nXwFjq8wyZUnZoSQl228jKe192CxBi9_HPHqx8yAbB3Ij-OQ/s1600/Tulips+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuDWgwiQUCtcnvV-V6KQeOnw47Nfvr8gXxFRiSyGVmd2jaE4V-ikYe-6F095LGpThdRSmZmBan96wCxA-YEyNe4_RKG0nXwFjq8wyZUnZoSQl228jKe192CxBi9_HPHqx8yAbB3Ij-OQ/s400/Tulips+4.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br />Have a great 'on plan' weekend friends! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #999999;">*All pictures were taken with my Blackberry Torch outside of my office just this past week!*</i></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

Great Strides Loss March for Babies March of Dimes Success Walk MS weigh in Weigh In Friday & Other Successes

I've finally gotten around to updating my stats on the left sidebar.  I'm now down 29.9 lbs as of today!  I'm working on getting...

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